"Why, you hardly know the ladies! How came you to go there, Aunt Matty?"
"The old lady sent for me."
"Sent for you!" interrupted Jessie, in wonder and displeasure, while her great eyes gave me a searching glance.
"Young Bosworth is very sick, and he wished so much to see me that his grandmother put aside all ceremony, and desired me to go as soon as possible."
Jessie turned very pale while I spoke, and leaned heavily against the arm of my chair.
"Was it sudden?" she asked, trembling. "Has he been sick long, Matty?"
"For several days, I believe."
I had not the heart to tell her that he was stricken down the very day after his last visit to her father's house, lest she should accuse herself as the cause.
"What is the matter?"
"He has brain-fever, Jessie."